Bill Ruger, one of leading US arms designers of post-WW2 period, begandevelopment of a new semi-automatic rifle circa 1970. The rifle was intended foreither civilian and para-military use; it was patterned after current US issue military rifle, the M14, and was chambered forrelatively new 5,56x45mm (.223 Remington) ammunition. Since its commercial introduction in 1973 the Ruger Mini-14 rifle found wide acceptance among bothcivilian shooters and a variety of police and security forces around the world.For government users, Ruger produced two specialized versions of the basic rifle- the Mini-14GB and AC-556. The former is still a semi-automatic only weapon,but is fitted with protected front sight, flash-hider and a bayonet lug. Thelatter is a selective-fired weapon, and thus can be classified as a true assault rifle. All weapons in the Mini-14 family share same basic design, although thereare differences in certain parts; for example, AC-556 rifles had slightly longer receiver, which hosts the fire mode switch at its rear part.
The first major modification to the Mini-14 family appeared in 1978, when Ruger introduced an all-stainless version of the basic rifle. Until now, all Ruger Mini-14 rifles are available either in carbon or stainless steel versions. In around 1982 Ruger introduced its next civilian modification of the Mini-14,known as the "Ranch" rifle. This version was optimized for use with telescope sight, and thus was produced with integral scope bases on receiver.Ejection mechanism was changed to eject spent cases to the right side, clear of the scope, and rear sight was fitted on the folding base. In 1986, Ruger introduced a Mini-30 rifle, which was same basic weapon but adapted to 7,62x39M43 ammunition of Russian origin. The last change in the Mini-14 line-up appeared as late as in 2005, when Ruger company introduced a new version of theMini-14, which incorporated integral scope bases of the earlier"Ranch" rifles with protected front sight and non-folding diopter rear sight, which has smaller mount that of previous rifles.
In general, Mini-14 rifles are known for their good reliability and durability.Accuracy is usually quoted as somewhat inferior to AR-15(M16)-type weapons, which are very popular in USA; however, Mini-14 rifles are accurate enough for most purposes, and are excellent weapons for hunting,home defense, and general plinking.

Ruger Mini-14 is gas operated, semi-automatic only weapon which uses Garand-typerotary bolt with two lugs. Action is operated by the long-stroke gas piston,which is located below the barrel and is concealed within forend of the stock.The gas piston has cup-shaped head, and is linked to the bolt via Garand-typeoperating rod which runs at the right side of the weapon. Manual safety also patterned after M1 Garand or M14 rifle, and is located at the front of the triggerguard. The selective-fire AC-556 hosts fire mode selection mechanism at the rear of the somewhat lengthened receiver. Fire mode selector is a separate switch on the right side of receiver,behind the ejection port. It has three positions – for single shots, 3-round bursts and full automatic fire.
Standard stock of the Mini-14 is of single-piece type, with semi-pistol grip and separate heat shiled above the barrel. Early Mini-14 rifles had wooden heatshiled which exposed operating rod; military-type Mini-14GB and AC-556 rifles, as well as current production civilian guns, feature polymer heatshields which over most of the operating rod. Over the time, Ruger also produced a folding-stock versions with wooden stock, plastic pistol grip and side-folding metallic shoulder stock. Ruger also makes "all-weather" polymer stocks for Mini-14 and Mini-30 rifles. It also must be noted that there are manyaftermarket stocks for Mini-14 rifles.
Standard sights consist of a blade-type front and adjustable diopter-type rear sight; "Ranch" type rifles also had integral scope mounts on the receiver, which will accept proprietary Ruger scope rings.
Original magazine capacities for Mini-14 rifles were 10 or 20 rounds, but since infamous American "Assault weapons ban" of 1994 Ruger offered civilian Mini-14 rifles with magazines containing only 5 rounds; however, some magazine makers produced after market magazines for Mini-14 and Mini-30 in capacities ofup to 40 (box) and 90 (snail-drum) rounds.